clearance

/'kliərəns/

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Word: Clearance

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition: "Clearance" can mean several things, but at its core, it refers to a kind of permission or the space available for something to pass through.

Meanings:

1. Permission to Proceed:

   • This use of "clearance" is often found in contexts like aviation or security.
   • Example: "The plane was given clearance to land," meaning the plane received permission from air traffic control to land.

2. Vertical Space Available:

   • This refers to the height space available for something to move without hitting anything above it.
   • Example: "The clearance under the bridge is 12 feet," meaning there is 12 feet of space under the bridge.

3. Distance Between Two Objects:

   • This meaning indicates the space that separates two things.
   • Example: "There was a clearance of three inches between the wall and the shelf."

Usage Instructions:

• Use "clearance" when discussing permissions, especially in formal contexts like travel or safety.
• Use it when referring to physical space, particularly in construction, transportation, or engineering contexts.

Advanced Usage:

• "Clearance" can also refer to sales where items are sold at reduced prices to clear out inventory.
  • Example: "The store is having a clearance sale to get rid of last season's stock."

Word Variants:

• Clear (verb): To make something free of obstacles or to get permission.
• Clear (adjective): Free from obstruction; easy to understand.

Different Meanings:

• In finance, "clearance" can refer to the process of settling a transaction.
• In a legal context, it may refer to obtaining official permission or an approval, such as a security clearance for a job.

Synonyms:

• Permission
• Authorization
• Passage
• Space
• Clearance sale (for inventory)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Clear the way": To remove obstacles to allow something to pass.

  • Example: "The workers cleared the way for the new construction project."

• "Clear out": To remove everything from a space.

  • Example: "We need to clear out the garage before winter."

Summary:

"Clearance" is a versatile word that often relates to permission, physical space, or sales.

Academic

Noun

1. permission to proceed
   • the plane was given clearance to land
2. vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
3. the distance by which one thing clears another; the space between them

Synonyms

• headroom
• headway